88. Jalen Jackson, Butler
Jalen Jackson arrives at Butler hoping to take the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. While Thad Matta has made some intriguing transfer portal splashes (including Gonzaga transfer Michael Ajayi), another name poised to make an impact in 2025-26 is Purdue Fort Wayne transfer Jalen Jackson.
The 6-foot-2 guard has shown no shortage of scoring prowess in the Horizon League last season, averaging 19.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.1 APG and 1.6 SPG. He led the Horizon League in scoring.
He shot 48.4% from the field, but his three-point shooting percentage dipped significantly last season, largely due to struggles off of the catch-and-shoot. Where he does excel, however, is at the rim. He shot 57%, allowing him to run the open floor and attack holes off ball screens. This is a name to watch in the Big East next season.
87. James Scott, Ole Miss
Among the slew of transfer portal additions en route to Oxford, Louisville transfer James Scott is a name to keep an eye on. Last season, the 6-foot-11 forward/center averaged 7.1 PPG and 6.1 RPG for the Cardinals, posting four double-doubles and five games with double-digit rebounds.
While not a go-to scorer, Scott provides much-needed size and rebounding prowess in a frontcourt that struggled on the glass last season. In addition, he’s ultra-efficient at the rim, shooting 75.5% from the field. Perhaps the most under-appreciated side to his game is his passing instincts at the top of the key, which should bode well playing alongside returning big man Malik Dia to help space the floor.
86. Malique Ewin, Arkansas
John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks didn’t need to attack the transfer portal as heavily this offseason, only landing two transfers. Among the lone two transfers is Florida State’s Malique Ewin, who averaged 14.2 PPG and 7.2 RPG, shooting 59.6% from the field.
Ewin led the ACC in field goal percentage and ranked third in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (3.07). I expect that to translate into the ultra-physical SEC.
Ewin is the definition of a productive big man. He won’t stretch the floor, but he’ll make his presence known inside the paint and on the glass. He will play alongside South Carolina transfer Nick Pringle in the frontcourt, who also shot a nifty field goal percentage of 57.2%.
85. Malachi Smith, Dayton
Malachi Smith had a terrific senior season at Dayton, averaging 10.4 PPG and 5.3 APG for the Flyers last season. The six-foot guard shot 38.3% from three and 42.% from the field. Smith expects to be a nice complementary veteran piece in the backcourt alongside Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr., returnee Solo Ball, and five-star freshman Braylon Mullins.
At first glance, Smith seems like the perfect fit in the sixth-man role as a terrific passer, posting a 2.63 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. According to BartTorvik.com, his 38.3 assist rating was the 12th-highest rating in all of college basketball last season.